So that’s that then. Never mind the fact that it took until Grand National day for Newcastle United to clear the final hurdle and go into the straight knowing if they stay on their feet they will get the right result. Tyneside remains in forgiving mood. The inquest into why it ever got this close will have to wait. With three wins on the bounce and seven goals in the past two games, it seems the much-heralded renaissance since the second coming of Kevin Keegan could be about to begin. Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen each got a goal to eventually turn a nervous start into a competent rout. For Owen, this was his fourth goal in four games.

“We did not play as well as we could today, we could have scored five or six goals,” the Newcastle manager said. “When you have our three strikers and they get it together you’re always going to get goals. We have sown the seeds for next season and given our supporters some optimism.”

As for Reading, with other results now making the final relegation places a little clearer, they should still be safe. It was only their second defeat in six games.

Because of the recent run of form, the crowd at St James’ Park was a little more relaxed than usual, but the mood was certainly not reciprocated on the pitch as Newcastle began in somewhat jittery mood.

A neat Kevin Doyle header just over the bar and an attempted chip from John Oster were ominous signs that Reading were not here just to make up the numbers. By that time Stephen Hunt had easily ripped through the heart of the home defence before being thwarted in the final strides as Newcastle sent too many passes astray to instil any confidence.

All this changed after 18 minutes, though, when Martins picked up the ball just inside the area, cut inside, transferred the ball from his left foot to his right and slammed it into the net. It was completely against the run of play and although the Nigerian celebrated with his trademark somersault, Keegan remained almost statuesque on the touch-line with his arms folded.

He knew his team had got out of jail and there was need for further improvement. His concerns were reinforced when, moments later, Dave Kitson tested goalkeeper Steve Harper with a powerful close-range shot from the most acute of angles. The closest Newcastle got again was when Owen’s header was tipped over the bar by Marcus Hahnemann in the Reading goal.

Newcastle’s new-found consistency has coincided with an unchanged three-game lineup. However, yesterday they were forced into a late adjustment when Steven Taylor was sent home after arriving at the ground with a dodgy stomach and all the signs of food poisoning. It meant a rare start for David Edgar.

Just when it looked as though Taylor’s malaise had spread to his colleagues, who were looking as though they needed the sanctuary of half-time to regroup, they doubled the lead. It was a rare piece of quality as Owen nipped in quickly to put the ball over Hahnemann. It deflated any lingering tension and when Newcastle emerged for the second half, it looked as though a huge weight had been lifted off their shoulders.

At last they began to produce the precise and open football that Keegan promotes and supporters demand and it was game over within 10 minutes of the break. Some clever play down the right flank saw Habib Beye, who had an outstanding afternoon, emerge unmarked inside the penalty area. With almost too much time and too many options on offer, he eventually selected the correct one and rolled the ball across for a very simple tap-in for Viduka. What a turnaround and what a change of atmosphere as chimes of “Walking in a Keegan Wonderland” began to ring out from all corners of the stadium. If only Reading had converted some early chances it could have been so different. Such a resounding deficit by this stage was a little harsh on their spirited contribution to an enjoyable contest.

They did ring the changes, using all three substitutes in the second half. Emerse Fae, Bobby Convey and Shane Long came on for Kalifa Cisse, Oster and Kitson respectively. However, it was all a little too late and did not deflect from Newcastle’s increasing dominance. There was the odd interruption to what was now becoming one-way traffic as Hunt, on a couple of occasions, got the better of Edgar’s hesitancy and came close, but these interruptions were now few and far between.

In the final moments, Keegan had the luxury of giving other members of his squad a run-out and on came Alan Smith and Damien Duff for Nicky Butt and Viduka. Summer additions to this squad will be a major talking point in these parts.

Reading’s manager, Steve Coppell, said: “For the first 20 minutes I thought we were the better team. But when you go in at half-time 2-0 down, that is why we are in the position we are in. When you are faced with a strikeforce of Owen, Viduka and Martins, it is difficult to hold them for 90 minutes."

Player ratings: Newcastle: Harper 6, Beye 7, Faye 7 (Diatta 82min), Edgar 5, Enrique 6, Geremi 6, Butt 7 (Smith 79min), Barton 6, Owen 8, Martins 7, Viduka 7 (Duff 74min) Attendance: 52,179

Reading: Hahnemann 7, Rosenior 6, Ingimarsson 5, Bikey 6, Shorey 6, Oster 6 (Convey 60min), Harper 5, Cisse 6 (Fae 72min), Hunt 6, Kitson 6 (Long 72min), Doyle 6